The night the reviewer was there: I visited Salsa on a recent weeknight for the review and have dined there two or three other times in past years. A finicky friend joined me for dinner, and we were seated promptly after arriving.Appetizers: The Jamaican fritters were tempting, but we settled on the fried green tomatoes ($8), which were served piping hot under melted cheese with roasted tomato salsa and fresh corn chips. The local tomatoes were thick cut but a bit too heavy on the batter. 3 stars.

Entrées: The menu includes a wide range of enchilada, quesadilla, fajita and empanada options, with fillings from seared salmon to jerk tofu to slow-roasted pork. Drawn to the list of specials, I opted for the chorizo paquetez ($17.50). The grilled tortilla pockets are filled with chorizo sausage, sliced avocado, sautéed mushrooms, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and adobo sauce. The flavors were spot-on, with the robust spice of the house-made chorizo balanced by the mellower fillings. My friend stuck with the regular menu, ordering the tilapia fajita ($14.50), which was also a delight. The mix of pan-fried filets along with goat cheese, mushrooms, spinach, salsa and fennel-seed saffron sauce in the flour tortilla produced a gentle, smoky flavor. 4 stars.Service: Although the restaurant was bustling during our prime-time visit, we were well taken care of throughout. 4 stars.The verdict: Salsa is a longstanding Asheville original with creative dishes and an energetic atmosphere that deservedly draws locals and tourists alike. 4 stars.Michael Flynn is a regular take5 contributor. E-mail him at mlflynn1@gmail.com.